Bayelsa workers are in pains — State NLC chairman

The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Bayelsa State chapter, Mr. Ndiomu John-Bipre, in this interview with SIMON UTEBOR confesses that workers in the state are going through pains over unpaid salaries

How many months’ salaries does the Bayelsa State Government owe workers?

There is no controversy about that. The truth is that workers have not been paid from January to March 2016. However, some of the workers have been paid for January.

What about those working for parastatals and agencies of government?

What I said earlier includes all of them.

But a worker in one of the agencies said the government owed them since November last year?

That is not true.

What about workers in the local government councils?

The issue of the local government is a glaring one. You are all aware of the N1.285bn bailout fund for local governments. The controversy there is that government is saying they will verify before they will pay but labour is saying, ‘no, pay them even if it is some for now and later the other ones.’

How many months’ salaries are local government workers owed?

It varies from one local government to another. Some are up to one year; some are eight months.

What reasons did the government give for not meeting its financial obligations to workers?

I expect the government to tell us its own story because when we talk, it is like we are speaking for the government.

But you ought to know since you have been meeting with the government over the issue.

The truth is that we have economic problems in this country and we all know that. A number of states are suffering. And from the state government’s explanation, it made us to believe that the revenue allocation accrued to the state had become very low. Normally, derivation is what increases the allocation that comes to Bayelsa. If we rely on revenue alone, we have the least number of local governments (per state) and that is what many people do not understand. Bayelsa has eight local governments, and the number of local governments is a major factor in the revenue allocation. So, with our eight LGAs, what we get is very low and that is where the problem is. Labour is calling on the state government to get intervention from the Federal Government. The Federal Government should intervene in a state like Bayelsa.

Why is Bayelsa’s situation peculiar?

Bayelsa is peculiar because we have eight LGAs and the share from the Federal Allocation is affecting us. For a state like Kano, for instance, look at the number of LGAs; that is why they (Kano) are no longer talking. If the oil price goes up, you will see our allocation coming up but if it is from revenue alone, there is no way.

Some Bayelsans have claimed that non-payment of salaries started during the last governorship election in Bayelsa and that the allocation to the state was allegedly used for electioneering, is this correct?

There are a lot of speculations. It is said that every human being is a political animal. They can say whatever they want but as a labour leader, whatever I say must have concrete evidence and that is what I believe in. Whatever I am told I must take time to verify. And that one I cannot verify; I will not accept it. If someone says (state) money had been used for election, before I can make a case with it, I should be able to defend what I want to say. I cannot align with that position.

It was learnt that workers were planning to go on strike. Are you still going ahead with the action?

I wonder which workers are planning to go on strike. I am the state chairman of the NLC. A strike is a decision of the congress and the congress has never agreed to go on strike. But when we sit and see the reason for that, we will do the needful. For now, I am not aware of any strike. But at the local government level, the Medical and Health Workers Union and National Union of Local Government Employees have given the state government a seven-day ultimatum on behalf of the council workers because the money is available. In the case of the LGAs, the state government itself had agreed that the money was available. At the state level, the money is not there. So, for local government workers, it is yes.

Governor Seriake Dickson was alleged to have taken some loans to enable him pay salaries, yet salaries are still being owed. What do you know about the loans?

I’m not aware. There were reports in some papers that he took N12.85bn; that is not correct. And some workers are carrying the report about. If it was the bailout fund, it was N1. 285bn.

Some workers were allegedly victimised for their alleged partisanship during the last governorship election in Bayelsa. What Labour doing about this?

I do not think anybody is victimised for now. I am sure that everybody is receiving their salaries. I think some workers complained that their salaries were withheld but I am sure they have been paid. If there is anybody that has not been paid, let them contact me.

But a lawyer has reportedly dragged the state government to court for alleged victimisation of those perceived to have supported the opposition during the poll and the setting up of a panel to investigate them…

Just as I have said earlier, they have all been paid. However, the government has the power to set up a panel to investigate a matter. All that we need is to include us in the committee. If somebody has gone to court, he has the right to go to court.

Due to unpaid salaries, some workers have resorted to begging for survival and the wave of crimes has reportedly increased. How has the congress responded to the development?

It is quite an unfortunate situation. We are all going through pains. The experience is not a pleasant one. People are suffering. Yes, we are aware and that is why, as labour leaders, we are taking our time to study the situation. We are also looking at what is happening in other states. We are also trying to make sure that the government is transparent. If what they are telling us is true; if the amount that comes into the state is what they are saying is coming, then, we need to sit down with the government and look at the way forward.

For now, we are talking with the government; it is telling us how much is coming in, how much they can pay and all of that. And I think that is why we have some relative peace right now. People are suffering and we sympathise with them over the situation. Sometimes we tell our workers, ‘please have some patience, cooperate with labour leaders.’ We are not relenting in the struggle; we are quite there. Do not let anybody believe that labour leaders have been bought or compromised. Nobody can bribe us so that he will not pay salaries. Is it possible that somebody can bribe you so that he will not pay your salary? Out of N4bn salary bill, how much did he (Dickson) give me?

It is being insinuated that Dickson is anti workers; that he is insensitive to their plight. Do you share that sentiment?

I will not agree with that totally. The economic realities on ground are not also very good. Dickson is one of the first that have paid workers’ salaries before; latest 25th day of the month, workers used to receive their salaries.

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